Signal flare



June 17, 1947. A. GEARON E AL 2,422,403

S IGNAL FLARE Filed Dec. 14, 1944 252 z/ezzfoaflsx 2542453672072 222/iZ/w 2/ Z 5% W Patented June 17, 1947 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE SIGNALFLARE John A. Gearon and Edward Gearon, Chicago, 111.

Application December 14, 1944, Serial No. 568,152

(01. 1o2 s7.s)

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to a flare adapted to be rolled or folded into acompact, sealed, fireproof package which can be unrolled and ignited andplaced in use in many different positions to act as a visible signal inmany different industries where such signals are used to indicate dangeror to convey other information by means of whit or colored lights.

Among the objects of our invention is to provide a signal flare havingan adhesive coating applied to a portion of its outer surface, and usedto attach it to an object on which it is pressed and thereby hold it ina serviceable position while burning.

Another important feature of this flare is to provide a flare that canbe cast or pressed onto a railway rail or onto a public highway fromtransportation vehicles, such as railway cars or locomotives or motorengines, or from automobiles, buses or trucks, while such vehicles aremoving at any rate of speed.

Another object of our invention is to create a signal flare having areflective coating containing fluorescent or luminescent material placedon parts of its inner surface and utilized toreflect the light made bythe flare when it is burning, thereby increasing the volume of lightcreated by the flare and improving its efficiency as a visible signal.

In our signal flare, the flare load is placed in a fire proof body insuch, a position that when the flare is ignited the flame is deflectedon a fireproof surface for safety, and is not thrown directly off theflare body.

Our signal flare is flexible, easy to fold, pack, carry and use. Itshandle permits proper holding or accurate casting.

Another valuable feature of this improved flare is provided by its beingconstructed so that when it is ignited and thrown onto a railwayright-ofway or public road or highway, it will come to rest on eitherone of its surfaces and the burning of the combustible material willthrow a desired amount of light on either side.

Our invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages andcapabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherentlypossessed by our invention.

While we have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred form of ourinvention, yet we wish it understood that the same is susceptible ofmodification and change without departing from the spirit of ourinvention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of our flare inunfolded position; Fig. 2 is an edge View showing the flare loadattached to the flar body; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of our flare oncefolded, and handle formed; .Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of Fig. 3;Fig. 5 is a sectional ,view of our flar completely folded; Fig. 6 isarear elevational view of the flare. as shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is aperspective view of our flare, ready for use; and Fig. 8 is an enlargeddetailed sectional view on line 8+8 ofjFig. l.

Referring to the mbodiment selected to illustrate our invention, itcomprises a body member Ill having a sheet of heavy flexible paper oroth'er suitable material I l to the inner surface of which is applied acoating of fireproof material l2 which also has reflective properties.To the outer surface of sheet II is applied an adhesive coating i3 ofmaterial also resistant to fire.

A flare load I4 is attached to the fireproof coating l2. The flare loadis of suitable ignitable and combustible material adapted when ignitedto throw off desired light or'sparkling effects. The flare load It isspread on coating I2 in a tortuous path as clearly shown in Fig. 1,-beginning adjacent one end of coating l2 and twisting back and forthacross until the opposite end is substantially reached. This provides along burning track. To provide proper combustion, air holes l5 extendingthrough body member l0 are spaced throughout the path of fire load M.

The opposite outer edges iii of body member it are scalloped as shown inFig. 1. These scalloped edges are spaced from the path of the fire loadl4.

Formed integral with body member In is handle ll having curved slits I8,leading from opposite edges at its inner end to spaced holes 19. Spacedhorizontally extending scores 20 extend from holes I9 to th outer end ofthe handle. Extending beyond the outer end of handle I! are spaced tabs2|.

Extending through body member Ill are four spaced staple openings 22.Also extending through body member I0 are a pair of spaced ignitionholes 23.

My body member i0 is folded inwardly on line 2 3, as shown in Figs. 3and l. It is then folded inwardly again on lines 25 to assume thecompletely folded position as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

The handle I! is bent inwardly on scores 20 and tabs 2! are tucked intolock the handle in the formed position shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and '7.

In folded position staple openings 22 are in register and the curved lip26 of the handle I! fits over the top pin opening 22. A staple 21 isthen r 3 pushed through lip 26 and into registered openings 22 to holdthe flare in folded position.

In folded position ignition holes 23 are in register at the front of theflare and present a half circle for the reception of means to ignite theflare.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A signal flare comprising a body member having a flare portion withan inner surface and an outer surface, a coating of fireproof andrefleeting materialattached to said inner surface, a coating offireproof and adhesive material attached to said outer surface, a flareload attached to said inner surface and extending thereacross in atortuous path throughout substantially the length of the flare portion,said flare portion, having a plurality of air holes spaced along ,thepath of the flare load, said flare'portion being folded inwardly onitself with the flare load on the inside and the adhesive coating on theoutside for contact with any object to which it is applied for holdingthe signal flare in desired position and means for holding the flareportion in folded position, said body member having an integral handleportionatrone end beyond the flare portion,

said handle portion being folded inwardly on itself, atright angles tosaid flare portion to form a handle.

2. A signal flare comp'risinga body" member having a fireproof flareportion with inner and 4 outer surfaces, a flare load attached to saidinner surface and extending thereacross in a tortuous path throughoutsubstantially the length of the flare portion, said flare portion havinga plurality of air holes spaced along the path of the flare load, saidflare portion being folded inwardly on itself with the flare load on theinside, and means for holding the flare load in folded position, saidflare portion having ignition holes in the front to receive ignitionmeans to ignite the flare load,

said body member having an integral handle portion at one end beyond theflare portion, said handle portion being folded inwardly on itself, at

right angles to said flare portion to form a handle.

JOHN A. GEARON. EDWARD GEARON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name I Date 794,824 Wagner July 18, 1905843,125 Wagner Feb. 5, 1907 1,818,478 Hitt Aug. 11, 1931 506,548Rockwell Oct. 10, 1893 1,530,692 Paulus Mar. 24, 1925 1,503,740 AdlerAug. 5, 1924

